I am so so so ready to go home. It's not even that cold yet, but it'll be so good to get back to the warmth of the Caribbean. I snapped a picture of my bikini in my suitcase, and I must say it's amazing to be able to pack a bathing suit when you're on your way home for Christmas. I don't think there's quite a feeling like it. I threw about six pairs of shorts and two short skirts in there; I'm ready to go.
Sadly, it won't be a completely free vacation. The application for my program's second year is due early in January, so I'll be working on my new statement of purpose while I'm chilling at the beach. I kid, of course. I won't be bringing my laptop to the beach.
Since I love you all so much, I will continue to blog throughout the Christmas break, and of course will provide braggy photos of the Caribbean sun and the palm trees swaying in the breeze of the Caribbean Sea. See you in Trinidad!
Friday, December 19, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
You're Adlerian? Prove It!
Today was our very final interventions class! It's kind of funny how all of our professors are so excited that the semester is finally over. Not that I'm not excited...I guess I'm excited. But I feel like I could go for a few more weeks. Maybe that's because I don't have a practicum yet, so I'm not as worn out by life as some of the other members of the cohort are.
OH but I do have a practicum! Last week I went out to an interview at Gaudenzia, a co-occurring drug and alcohol treatment center where three other members have already been placed. I'm a little nervous: the interviewer told me as I sat there that the site is not for the "sensitive", and as much as I would love to see myself as having a tough skin, I definitely do not. So I'll have to grow one if I want to be successful. I wonder if that's something I'll be able to work on during the winter break. Perhaps I'll join the army over the break? I guess we'll see...
But anyway the point I wanted to bring up in this post is what we talked about in our very last interventions class period. We discussed each of our theoretical orientations and how we are going to foster our knowledge of the orientation and our skills at using the techniques. I thought about how I consider myself Adlerian, with some sprinkles of person-centered and cognitive-behavioral theories mixed in, and I wondered about how I'm going to learn more about Adler, PCT, and CBT. From whom will I seek supervision? Where will I go to attend workshops and conferences?
These are definitely questions that I, and every beginning counselor, should answer. I look forward to learning everything I can about my favorite orientations, and I hope to do my part to improve my theory's professional organizations, so that Adlerians on the whole can improve how clients see our orientation. I worry that the lack of time spent on the websites for our orientation gives a poor presentation to potential clients, and I hope to be one of the instrumental people in changing that.
OH but I do have a practicum! Last week I went out to an interview at Gaudenzia, a co-occurring drug and alcohol treatment center where three other members have already been placed. I'm a little nervous: the interviewer told me as I sat there that the site is not for the "sensitive", and as much as I would love to see myself as having a tough skin, I definitely do not. So I'll have to grow one if I want to be successful. I wonder if that's something I'll be able to work on during the winter break. Perhaps I'll join the army over the break? I guess we'll see...
But anyway the point I wanted to bring up in this post is what we talked about in our very last interventions class period. We discussed each of our theoretical orientations and how we are going to foster our knowledge of the orientation and our skills at using the techniques. I thought about how I consider myself Adlerian, with some sprinkles of person-centered and cognitive-behavioral theories mixed in, and I wondered about how I'm going to learn more about Adler, PCT, and CBT. From whom will I seek supervision? Where will I go to attend workshops and conferences?
These are definitely questions that I, and every beginning counselor, should answer. I look forward to learning everything I can about my favorite orientations, and I hope to do my part to improve my theory's professional organizations, so that Adlerians on the whole can improve how clients see our orientation. I worry that the lack of time spent on the websites for our orientation gives a poor presentation to potential clients, and I hope to be one of the instrumental people in changing that.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Papers, Papers, Papers
In a few more days I will be finished with the first semester of graduate school! It's funny because I've been hearing so many people saying that they just finished their first semester of grad school and I haven't really been able to celebrate because I am still three papers away from that milestone. Having a transcript to write puts it all into perspective for me. And it's interesting to see how much different it is being here than it was to be in undergrad. Were people this excited to finish their first semester of their undergraduate first year? I'm not sure.
But anyway the point is that we're almost done! Just a few months ago I was scared about how difficult graduate school would be, but while it has been a challenging semester, it has also been an enjoyable one, much much more than the first semester of undergrad.
I think a good recap of the semester is that it was productive. I read (almost) every reading, and I worked hard to do deeper reflection and sometimes extra research for our papers. And while my enthusiasm could be, and has been, deemed overkill, I think I'm a better person for it. I learned so much more than I would have, not only about counseling skills, theories, and concepts, but about myself.
Looking back on the past few months, I'd say I'm proud that I stuck sticky notes in the pages of the textbook chapters that I read word for word. I'm happy that I used those extra articles for that theory paper. I'm glad that I put my all into the program, because even if it wasn't completely necessary, it has made this program all the more worthwhile.
This has, hands down, been one of the best semesters of my entire student career. I have made friends who I hope to keep for a lifetime, maybe even moving out to live closer to some of them. I have seen my faults but also my strengths, and I am using this knowledge to try to become the best I can be. I have learned how to be an empathetic, driven, and ethical counselor. And I have become an Adlerian. And I must say that this semester has been a SUCCESS!
I am so looking forward to getting back here in the spring, when I get to spend another few months with some of the best people out there, the Kounseling Krew.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Finals Time...
I know what you're thinking: EW. Finals time. But of course it's just another inevitable part of the student life. And it hasn't been as bad as finals used to be during my undergraduate career.
Finals started off with an exam for ethics. It's supposed to be a paper on the ethical issues at your practicum site but since I haven't started anywhere yet, I wasn't able to write that paper. Although this has been frustrating, it's been nice that the professors have been flexible about changing assignments, since they know there's nothing I could do about not having a practicum site.
Compared to the types of multiple choice exams I used to take back at UVA, this exam was awesome! Only 20 questions (which can be both good and bad, since each question is worth a lot) and only covering what we talked about in class. Mind you, I read every single chapter of the textbook as well as taking notes in class every week, and it paid off! So one piece of advice I'd definitely give to incoming students: READ. A lot of people shirk their readings because they think it's common sense or we learn it all in class, but it couldn't hurt to have a handle on the information before going over it in class.
Next, we've got a theory paper due for interventions, a group proposal for group, a case presentation and transcript for practicum, a process analysis for group, and a last paper on the importance of theory for interventions. PHEW! Well, that was a mouthful. But I've already got a handle on a lot of the assignments, so I'm not too concerned. But it definitely is getting STRESSFUL! So of course here I will put a plug for the importance of SELF-CARE! That's something our program emphasizes so much, because counseling can be a hazardous profession. Hearing other people's struggles can bring out your own struggles, or it can just trigger an empathetic reaction, and we have to take care of ourselves to remedy that.
Finally, one of the best things going on right now (something good to counteract all the papers) is that I have an INTERVIEW at Gaudenzia! Gaudenzia is a concurrent drug and alcohol treatment center, so they work with people who struggle both with addictions and with some mental illness. It will no doubt be difficult, but I'm excited to get the chance to start making a difference in people's lives, and to learn something new, regardless of how far out of my comfort zone I will be stepping.
Wish me luck!
Finals started off with an exam for ethics. It's supposed to be a paper on the ethical issues at your practicum site but since I haven't started anywhere yet, I wasn't able to write that paper. Although this has been frustrating, it's been nice that the professors have been flexible about changing assignments, since they know there's nothing I could do about not having a practicum site.
Compared to the types of multiple choice exams I used to take back at UVA, this exam was awesome! Only 20 questions (which can be both good and bad, since each question is worth a lot) and only covering what we talked about in class. Mind you, I read every single chapter of the textbook as well as taking notes in class every week, and it paid off! So one piece of advice I'd definitely give to incoming students: READ. A lot of people shirk their readings because they think it's common sense or we learn it all in class, but it couldn't hurt to have a handle on the information before going over it in class.
Next, we've got a theory paper due for interventions, a group proposal for group, a case presentation and transcript for practicum, a process analysis for group, and a last paper on the importance of theory for interventions. PHEW! Well, that was a mouthful. But I've already got a handle on a lot of the assignments, so I'm not too concerned. But it definitely is getting STRESSFUL! So of course here I will put a plug for the importance of SELF-CARE! That's something our program emphasizes so much, because counseling can be a hazardous profession. Hearing other people's struggles can bring out your own struggles, or it can just trigger an empathetic reaction, and we have to take care of ourselves to remedy that.
Finally, one of the best things going on right now (something good to counteract all the papers) is that I have an INTERVIEW at Gaudenzia! Gaudenzia is a concurrent drug and alcohol treatment center, so they work with people who struggle both with addictions and with some mental illness. It will no doubt be difficult, but I'm excited to get the chance to start making a difference in people's lives, and to learn something new, regardless of how far out of my comfort zone I will be stepping.
Wish me luck!
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